Pope’s visit to Ireland a fight to keep the faith

THE weekend paradoxically became a struggle to reinvigorate the faith in the Church of this traditional Catholic stronghold in the face of multiple abuse scandals and shedding of traditional mores.

Once a bastion of Roman Catholicism, Ireland is unrec almost 40 years ago, when divorce was banned and same-sex marriage was unheard of.

The Church’s grip on Irish society has weakened and the papal visit on Saturday and Sunday was a moment for Ireland to take stock of the Church’s diminished role in national life.

meant for him to close the 2018 World Meeting of Families (WMF), a global Catholic gathering that takes place every three years.

The pontiff has set out to address the catalogue of abuse that has dramatically eroded the Church’s authority in Ireland. Some 14,500 people have applied for compensation under an

Irish society has publicly rejected Church teachings in two recent referendums.

In 2015, 62 percent voted in favor of legalizing samesex marriage.

This year, on May 25, 66 percent voted in favor of lifting the constitutional ban on abortion imposed after a referendum in 1983.

These were seen as watershed moments, but for some, they place since.

Compounding this is a fiery testament by a leading step down, alleging that the top Holy See authority was made aware soon after becoming pope in 2013 that the former archbishop of Washington, ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, had engaged in unlawful sexual indiscretions, chosen not to address the call for his resignation.

Catholic Church not only in the US and Ireland, but for the Church all over the world.

uncomprehending about all that is going on today in the world of Catholicism.

Catholicism can surely contribute to defending and shoring up the faith.

has a deep reserve of strength and a rock-solid constituency that appear to be trying to weaken the Church.

- settling. We should trust that the Vatican would address this issue with its traditional cool and wisdom.

When you think of how long and laborious the process is of selecting a new pope, it should be enough incentive for Catholics around the world to rally behind the Church

Yes, there is clearly an imperative for reform and account letter to all Catholics and his words and actions in Ireland. The Catholic faithful and their pastors should take that forward as a new campaign for renewal and strengthening of the Church.

In this time of crisis, we join all those who hope that the Catholic Church will emerge renewed, united and strong in spirit.